Metacritic Games

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (GameCube)

For the first time gamers will play as friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as well as Harry Potter, switching between characters and utilizing their key attributes and skills to resolve challenges and overcome enemies. The three friends will need to combine their strengths and master a variety of new spells as they face Harry's most terrifying opponents yet: the escaped convict Sirius Black and the Dementors, the sinister guards of Azkaban prison. From the opening scene on the Hogwarts Express to the climatic finale on the shore of the great lake at Hogwarts, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban videogame will immerse players in the magical world of Harry Potter. Players will unravel the mystery surrounding Sirius Black and his escape from the infamous wizard prison Azkaban, as they take part in the most exciting and challenging Harry Potter videogame adventure yet. Gamers will encounter a host of new characters and creatures, engage in a variety of sub-quests, fly on a Hippogriff, reveal the secrets of the Marauder's Map, and take on their friends in multiple two-player challenges. [Electroinc Arts]

Electronic Arts
Action, Adventure
Players: 2
E (Everyone)
Developer: Electronic Arts UK
Released June 2, 2004

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

67 / 100

Critic Reviews

80 Next Level Gaming
It is by far the best Harry Potter game made to date.
80 AceGamez
Gamers not used to the Hogwarts world may still be impressed by the novel approach to the gameplay, the magical graphics and the well-balanced learning curve.
80 Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
A genuinely good third-year romp for Harry. Accomplished and absorbing, it's not quite magical but it's certainly no muggle either. [GamesMaster]
79 Computer and Video Games
If Floo Powder, Dementors and Fizzing Whizbees mean anything to you, get this game as soon as you can. But be warned, the simplicity of it might mean a part exchange within a few days.
78 Nintendo Power
I especially enjoy the three-character aspect, and the music is absolutely gorgeous. This game is a must-have for Potter fans. [Aug 2004, p.120]
75 Weekly Famitsu
8 / 8 / 7 / 7 - 30 silver [Vol 811; 2 July 2004]
75 Nintendojo
It’s depressing from my standpoint and given EA’s efforts with the past three games, it’s hard to see if this series is going anywhere.
73 Game Over Online
A brainteaser with some action thrown in, Prisoner of Azkaban is similar to games like "The Lost Vikings." Only this time it's 3D and the level of difficulty is a few notches lower to cater to a general audience.
70 GameCube Europe
It’s a pleasant experience, though. Not as good as Zelda, but the Harry Potter-sauce surely lifts it above average.
70 Yahoo! Games
The combat difficulty level is forgiving, and the game guides you through the puzzles with helpful clues and hints from the other characters. Less experienced gamers -- who, let's face it, are really the ones the game is aimed at -- will find its light touch very rewarding.
70 Cheat Code Central
It's not unplayable but it will require more work than necessary to compensate for the shoddy technical flaws.
68 TotalGames.net
Whilst the team-play system is superbly implemented and the animations have been greatly improved, the game still lacks in originality and any real challenge.
68 WHAM! Gaming
Fans of the books and films will enjoy the chance to explore the Hogwarts grounds and do things like ride Buckbeak the hippogriff and collect all of the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, but there's not a lot in this game to appeal to your average Muggle.
67 Gaming Age
The game is very linear and hopefully one day the EA team will expand this title with a bit more freedom.
65 1UP
While it's true that things have improved, that doesn't mean it's suddenly a great game. While the downplaying of the storyline does help streamline the game, it also makes your goals seem a little disconnected and random.
65 Electronic Gaming Monthly
A simple, solid adventure with smart puzzles and high production values, but it leads its junior wizards through every baby step. [Aug 2004, p.101]
65 Game Informer
I wish I could say that Prisoner of Azkaban was a bold new start for the series. It's not, but this is a significantly better game than either of the previous two entries. [July 2004, p.111]
60 Ferrago
It ticks a number of very basic and previously-defined boxes with unbending efficiency, throwing in a few commendable moments of surprising fun, drenched in the usual superficial fineries (the visuals, recognisable characters, plotlines, set-pieces, et al) with which many an EA game has plied its trade in the past.
60 IGN
Feels sloppy, especially on GameCube and PlayStation 2. The framerate is unpredictable. There are control and lock-on issues. There are artificial intelligence oversights. And there are some collision detection problems.
60 GameSpy
Let the kids have their fun. Just play it a little once the kids have gone to bed.
50 netjak
The aural aspects are equally uninspiring. While there is nothing wrong with them, they are simply not very impressive at all.
50 Game Revolution
The Gamecube version of Prisoner of Azkaban features a few mini-games that can be played as bonus activities as well as the ability to hook up a GBA and take care of a pet owl, which is not very fun. Compared to the PS2's EyeToy games, the extras here are pretty thin.

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